Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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PH 341 - Intro-Astronomy/Astrophysics

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
This introductory survey covers topics that range from a discussion of the observations and experiments of the earliest astronomers to a consideration of the most recent developments involving black holes, the detection of gravitational waves, and the search for extrasolar planets. Broad topic areas include: the Earth, the solar system, lives of stars, and galaxies. Some time is spent discussing different types of telescopes, including spaced-based telescopes. A Maksutov-Cassegrain 5-inch reflecting telescope is available for student use off campus. (prereq: PH 123 , PH 130 , PH 2020 or PH 2021 )
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Distinguish between scientific models and reality. Discuss the scientific method
  • Discuss the history of astronomy and astronomical observations
  • Describe the universe in general terms, its constituents, and the Earth’s position in the universe.
  • Distinguish between astronomy and astrology
  • Describe how the laws of Newtonian mechanics lead to an understanding of Kepler’s laws of planetary motion
  • Discuss the mechanics of orbits and explain “weight-lessness”
  • Understand the use of celestial coordinates and terminology
  • Explain the origin of the Earth’s seasons, lunar phases and elipses of the sun and moon
  • Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and the inverse-square law of propagation of electromagnetic energy
  • Explain the importance of spectroscopy in astronomy, as used in temperature determination and spectral classification, composition, and relative velocity of stars
  • Discuss the Planck Radiation Law, and basic atomic theory as it relates to emission and absorption spectra
  • Describe various forms of astronomical instrumentation, including optical and radio telescopes, photometric devices, and ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma ray telescopes
  • Explain the choices of the locations of the orbiting Hubble and James Webb space telescopes
  • Describe the solar system, its constituents, and size in general terms and to discuss the properties of the terrestrial and Jovian planets
  • Calculate the average temperature of the surfaces of the planets, and to know the current facts about climate change and global warming
  • Describe the life cycle of stars and to explain how the details of a star’s life cycle depends on its mass
  • Discuss meteors, asteroids, and comets in general terms
  • Discuss the history and future of space exploration
  • Explain how the apparent and absolute magnitudes of stars are determined
  • Explain how astronomical distances are determined
  • Understand how the energy radiated by the sun is produced and to calculate the sun’s probable lifetime
  • Explain how the H-R diagram and computer methods lead to an understanding of the structure and evolution of stars, including white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, black holes, and supernovae
  • Describe the Milky Way Galaxy, its shape, size, and structure
  • Discuss galaxies, galactic distances and galactic types, including quasars
  • Discuss the structure of the universe, the Hubble Law, and the Big Bang cosmological model
  • Understand the different methods used to search for extrasolar planets including the Kepler Mission

Prerequisites by Topic
  • None 

Course Topics
  • Astronomy (6 classes)
  • Observational Astronomy (6 classes)
  • Planetary and Stellar Motions (6 classes)
  • Interstellar Material (3 classes)
  • Star Types, etc. (3 classes)
  • Stellar Evolution (2 classes)
  • Galaxies and Quasars (2 classes)
  • Cosmology (2 classes)

Coordinator
A. James Mallmann



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